What to Wear

One of Anila's favorite things about an Indian wedding is that everyone - including the guests - has the opportunity to wear different outfits for each event!

While Western attire is perfectly welcome, we wanted to offer you the option to participate, or even just the opportunity to learn about the different cultural attire.

We know some of you are excited to attend your first-ever Indian Wedding and would like to participate in wearing the bright colorful outfits, so we put together some guidance on what is typical attire for Indian wedding events. Of course, there are many more options, but here are some examples to give a taste. (Plus, Chris needed some help too!)

Note, these are not requirements, but rather ideas, so please do not feel obligated to participate. Regardless, we know you will look good, because it's not what you you wear - it's how you wear it that counts...and we know all our guests wear it well!

Mehendi & Sangeet

"Sangeet" is comes from the Sanskrit word for "music." This event is meant to have bright, colorful tones to kick off the festivities. Because of the song & dance, the fabric is usually lighter, to allow movement with the music.

MEN

Pajama

Resort Chic

A comfortable, long cotton tunic with cotton pants. Lightweight fabric and can be worn in various colors.

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com
Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen top with slacks.

WOMEN

Salwar Kameez

A comfortable, ornate tunic worn over drawstring pants. Can be worn in all colors and often accessorized with a complimentary scarf. Jewelry also helps to make noise when dancing!

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/salwar-kameez-online

Lehenga

Resort Chic

A fitted top paired with a complimenting long skirt and scarf. This style comes in many varieties and levels of style, but ones worn to Mehendi events are usually lighter fabric (e.g. silk, poly-blend) and more colorful.

Note, when buying, the tops can be customized to full front coverage or crop lengths.

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/silk-lehengas

A colorful resort dress or flowy pants with lighter, movable fabric, like silk or cotton-blend.

Baraat & Wedding

As a religious ceremony, attire is typically more conservative styling. Fabrics are still bright & festive colors, but richer, and more ornate.

MEN

Resort Day Formal

Kurta

A more formal long cotton or silk tunic with matching pants. The Kurta (top) can be more ornate and can be adorn with a scarf.

One famous style is the "Nehru" collar. Taking its inspiration and name from the clothing of former Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the collar stands straight up from your shirt or jacket, has slightly rounded edges and doesn't quite meet when fastened together.

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com
Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen suit, or dress shirt with slacks. Sports jacket optional.

WOMEN

Saree

One of the most iconic dresses of all time, this classic dress is specially pleated and draped around a woman's body to accentuate her curves in the most flattering way! Typically, saree's are worn by married or older women, but has become a fashion trend for younger women as well!

Tip: Bring safety pins to keep pleating in place.

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/silk-blend-sarees?p=2

How to Wear It:

https://youtu.be/Ftq9_kEHDmo

Lehenga

A fitted top paired with a complimenting long skirt and scarf.

In the wedding version, the fabric is a heavier silk with embroidery and detail. Easy to wear, this is a great option for an simple & elegant look!

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/silk-lehengas

Resort Day Formal

A colorful resort dress or pant suit with lighter, movable fabric, like silk or silk-blend. Typically, shoulders are covered during the religious portion of the ceremony.

The above pant suit offers a more fusion look that can be dressed up or down with jewelry.

Where to Buy Outfit Above:
indus.com

Wedding Reception

This evening event is a fun party meant to celebrate the new combined families. Often, the fabrics are more ornate, with embroidery and sequins, and have gold woven into the fabric to give a shimmery look to let the guests sparkle the night away!

MEN

Resort Formal

Kurta

A more formal long cotton or silk tunic with matching pants. The Kurta (top) can be more ornate and can be adorn with a scarf.

Here the threading and gold accents are what differentiates it to evening, celebratory attire.

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com
Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen suit, dress shirt & slacks. Sports jacket optional.

WOMEN

Saree

This timeless dress can be glammed up with ornate detailing, leaving a dazzling look on the evening.

Tip: Bring safety pins to keep pleating in place.

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/silk-blend-sarees?p=2

How to Wear It:

https://youtu.be/Ftq9_kEHDmo

Anarkali / Lehenga

The Anarkali dress is a long dress that is a sort of a cross between the Lehenga & the Salwar Kameez. It serves as a nice fusion option for those who want to use the dress for future western events.

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com
https://www.inddus.com/silk-lehengas

Resort Evening Wear

What to Wear

Mehendi & Sangeet

MEN

Pajama

Resort Chic

A comfortable, long cotton tunic with cotton pants. Lightweight fabric and can be worn in various colors.

​

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com

Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen top with slacks.

WOMEN

Salwar Kameez

A comfortable, ornate tunic worn over drawstring pants. Can be worn in all colors and often accessorized with a complimentary scarf. Jewelry also helps to make noise when dancing!

​

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com

Lehenga

Resort Chic

A fitted top paired with a complimenting long skirt and scarf. This style comes in many varieties and levels of style, but ones worn to Mehendi events are usually lighter fabric (e.g. silk, poly-blend) and more colorful.

​

Note, when buying, the tops can be customized to full front coverage or crop lengths.

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com

A colorful resort dress or flowy pants with lighter, movable fabric, like silk or cotton-blend.

Baraat & Wedding

MEN

Resort Day Formal

Kurta

A more formal long cotton or silk tunic with matching pants. The Kurta (top) can be more ornate and can be adorn with a scarf.

One famous style is the "Nehru" collar. Taking its inspiration and name from the clothing of former Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, the collar stands straight up from your shirt or jacket, has slightly rounded edges and doesn't quite meet when fastened together.

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com

Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen suit, or dress shirt with slacks. Sports jacket optional.

WOMEN

Saree

One of the most iconic dresses of all time, this classic dress is specially pleated and draped around a woman's body to accentuate her curves in the most flattering way! Typically, saree's are worn by married or older women, but has become a fashion trend for younger women as well!

​

Tip: Bring safety pins to keep pleating in place.

​

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com

​

How to Wear It:

Lehenga

A fitted top paired with a complimenting long skirt and scarf.

​

In the wedding version, the fabric is a heavier silk with embroidery and detail. Easy to wear, this is a great option for an simple & elegant look!

​

​

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com

Resort Day Formal

A colorful resort dress or pant suit with lighter, movable fabric, like silk or silk-blend. Typically, shoulders are covered during the religious portion of the ceremony. The above pant suit offers a more fusion look that can be dressed up or down with jewelry. Where to Buy Outfit Above: indus.com

Wedding Reception

MEN

Resort Formal

Kurta

A more formal long cotton or silk tunic with matching pants. The Kurta (top) can be more ornate and can be adorn with a scarf.

​

Here the threading and gold accents are what differentiates it to evening, celebratory attire.

​

Where to Buy:

RiyaCollective.com

Amazon.com

Light cotton or linen suit, dress shirt & slacks. Sports jacket optional.

WOMEN

Saree

This timeless dress can be glammed up with ornate detailing, leaving a dazzling look on the evening.

​

Tip: Bring safety pins to keep pleating in place.

​

Where to Buy:

utsavfashion.com

​

How to Wear It:

Anarkali / Lehenga

The Anarkali dress is a long dress that is a sort of a cross between the Lehenga & the Salwar Kameez. It serves as a nice fusion option for those who want to use the dress for future western events.

​